Sci-fi sound wave device makes Star Trek style tractor beams out of powerful mini-tornadoes that can manipulate large objects

It seems like every day you see, hear, or read about something that’s being created or invented concerning all sorts of popular science fiction technology, but a fully-working tractor beam was never among them — until now. According to a team of engineers from the University of Bristol, they have successfully managed to develop the world’s most powerful tractor beam, and it’s capable of moving objects around using nothing but the power of sound.

That’s right, with the power of their newly-invented acoustic tractor beam, the team of engineers was able to show that it’s possible to hold particles in mid-air. So far, they have only tested it on a two-centimeter piece of polystyrene sphere, but it’s a good start, considering the technology could have lots of different applications — out on land or even in other locations.